RORY'S ONE FOR THE AGES

In-form Mcllroy back to scene of his 2014 triumph...and it's making him feel 'old'

- NEIL MCLEMAN

RORY MCILROY has admitted he feels "old" returning to Royal Liverpool nine years after his first and only Open triumph.

The Ulsterman started his Open story by winning the Silver Medal as top amateur as a mop-headed teenager at Carnoustie in 2007.

On the Wirral in 2014, he joined Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods in the exclusive club of players to win three Majors by the age of 25.

And when Mcllroy claimed his fourth at the US PGA the following month in his golden summer, the Golden Bear predicted he could go on to win "15 or 20 Majors". Since then, marriage, fatherhood, LIV Golf and countless near misses have happened for the world No.2.

Sir Nick Faldo has said that he believes Mcllroy faces a "psychology test" in Hoylake because "he's got lots of scar tissue from the last nine years".

Mcllroy has racked up 19 top-10 finishes in Majors since 2014, including his second place at last month's US Open.